A dental implant functions as an artificial root to anchor a replacement tooth or teeth. A small titanium post is surgically implanted in the jawbone, and as part of the healing process it bonds with the bone. A metal abutment is connected to the implant, and then a crown, bridge or denture is attached to the abutment. The work is typically done in stages, often with separate prices for the implant surgery, the abutment placement and the replacement tooth or teeth. There may also be a charge for a temporary "flipper" tooth while the jaw heals after surgery.
Typical costs:
A single implant typically costs $2,400-$3,000, but can be $4,000-$10,000 or more if additional procedures like extractions, bone grafts, tissue grafts or a sinus lift are needed. CostHelper readers report paying $1,000-$5,000 for an implant with an average cost of $2,488.
Placing an abutment and a dental crown on a single implant typically adds $500-$3,000 to the cost of just the implant, for a total of $1,500-$13,000 or more. CostHelper readers report paying $1,750-$8,270 for an implant, flipper tooth, abutment, crown and all needed procedures, with an average cost of $4,263.
Two to six implants topped with a partial or full-mouth dental bridge can cost $3,500-$30,000 or more, depending on the number of implants, bridge size and materials, and any other needed procedures. CostHelper readers report paying $4,000-$16,000 for a three- or four-tooth bridge on two implants, with an average price of $8,486.
Two to six implants with a removable denture plate can cost $3,500-$30,000 or more depending on the number and type of implants (mini-implants are less expensive), denture materials (in some cases an existing denture plate can be adapted for use with implants) and any other procedures needed. A full set (upper and lower) of implants and dentures can cost $7,000-$90,000 or more. CostHelper readers report paying $3,800-$27,858 for implants with a single denture plate, at an average cost of $14,226; and $6,549-$80,000 for a full set of implant-supported dentures (upper and lower), for an average expense of $34,119.
Dental insurance typically does not cover implants, because most insurance companies categorize implants as cosmetic procedures. However, some surgical costs might be covered by health insurance.
Implant surgery is typically performed by a dental surgical specialist -- a periodontist, an oral surgeon or a dentist with advanced training in implant surgery. Abutments and implant-supported crowns, bridges or dentures are typically placed by a dentist or a prosthodontist (specializing in restorative procedures). The International Congress of Oral Implantology has an overview of dental implants[1] .
Typically the implant site is allowed to heal for three to six months after surgery and one to two weeks after the abutment is placed. A temporary "flipper" tooth may be worn during this period. Although there are "instant" mini-implants where a bridge or denture is installed immediately after implant surgery, the standard process (including bone and tissue grafts or other procedures, if needed) takes three months to a year or more to complete. The Mayo Clinic explains what to expect[2] after dental implant surgery.
Additional costs:
Ask detailed questions about what is included in a price quote. An estimate for an implant may not include the abutment and crown.
Discounts:
Dental school clinics[3] offer reduced rates for services by supervised students or faculty. A CostHelper reader in North Carolina reports paying $60 for an extraction, $75 for a bone graft, $1,200 for a single implant and $600 for a crown at the University of North Carolina. Another reader was quoted $75,000 by a private dentist but paid about $20,000 to have the work done at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research provides tips for finding low-cost dental care[4] .
Shopping for dental implants:
A comprehensive dental exam (with X-rays and possibly a CT scan, plus models made of the patient's mouth) is used to create an individualized treatment plan. The Mayo Clinic explains what to expect before dental implant surgery[5] .
If insurance coverage is available for any portion of the process, the company will provide a list of approved dentists and specialists. Or search for local members of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry[6] , the American Academy of Periodontology[7] , the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons[8] , the American College of Prosthodontists[9] , the American Dental Association[10] or the International Congress of Implantologists[11] .
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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Dentist insist on pulling all teeth and doing implants even if NOT necessary. These guys ae in it for the money. These dental implants are a scam and these dentist are cashing in on the money. There are more multimillion dollar dentist than Doctors.
I was forced to consider full-mouth implants when I developed "burning mouth syndrome" from the materials used in my denture and partial plates. It was submitted to insurance by the surgeon's office manager and my dentist's office manager, but to no avail. Even though they are medically necessary, I didn't qualify for any help. I am 70 years old and got the dentures when I was 62. I didn't realize that it would take 6 to 8 months to complete the entire process, and it has not been easy. Just finished the abutment surgery today and am two to three months away from the "finish line." I haven't had a new car in 15 years, and I just finished paying off the $15,000 for home damage from a hurricane that Allstate Insurance wouldn't cover. (They did award 1,300 after my paying 20 years of $2200/yr premiums!) It hasn't been easy. But at this point, I'm all in, and I'd advise anyone who's in my same shoes to talk with the surgeon and see if they can help you. Mine was.
I’ve been without teeth for about 7yrs. Did immediate dentures with a 2nd set made about a yr later. Was denture sold by a clinic that pushed dentures on ppl when they didn’t need them (like myself). Looking back, it was the biggest mistake of my life!!! I’m 41 now and have severe facial collapse & atrophy which no one there apparently thought necessary to explain me. I was in pageants, talent shows, & some small gig modeling & now my face is permanently deformed unless i can afford major bone grafts & upper/ lower jaw reconstruction (25,00-50,00) & a full set of implants (ranging between (10,000 for snap in) up to 35,000 for implanted). Even with the dentures I have now (which cost me almost $9,000 & sold my vehicles and other items to afford) I look terrifying (sunken in cheeks, lips, mouth, sagging). I avoid people, places, anything & everything. Ran into old coworker last yr who inquired on whether I’d been in an accident? Or ill?? Having teeth isn’t a luxury! It’s essential!!!!
Wow, some of these previous comments seriously concern me. We have a dentist carrying on about how much it cost for his entire education and the cost of building and supplying an entire office. So the cost of a dozen patients needing full replacements should cover the cost of your entire practice? Wow. Self entitled much? Then just two comments below you have a deranged republican thinking that every criminal in TN has a great smile via tax payers expense. In the TN prison system the only dental care available is extraction and cheap ass dentures. Where do these fruitcakes come up with this garbage?
In 1986, I started my first full time Big Girl job, which came with options for medical insurance that ranged from "Volkswagon to Cadillac, and everything in between" which was up to me to choose based on my needs, what I could afford, etc. However, there was only 1 option for dental coverage, and it was the same as any you have ever heard of, 2 free annual cleanings, fillings at 80%, root canals and crowns covered at 50%, TO A MAX OF $1000 per year paid by the dental plan. Here it is 35 years later, and the dental plans are still EXACTLY THE SAME, STILL ONLY $1000 max insurance per year! EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD HAS GONE UP IN PRICE TREMENDOUSLY SINCE 1986, SO WHY IS DENTAL COVERAGE STILL ONLY A MAX OF $1000 PER YEAR???????????? And I hear, read, see, all the time, "dental problems can impact your entire body, from the heart, to organs, digestive, and nervous systems." If dental health is so important to well being, why won't insurance companies catch up with the times?
Posted by: 5k less for retirement in Portland, ME.
Posted: November 11th, 2020 02:11PM
Which Tooth: 4 front
I cracked a front tooth, on a Kind bar of all things, and was told it could not be saved. Already had 3 front crowns that were over 10 years old so I decided to replace them at the same time as the implant. The cost was $7800 for all however I did it over 2 years so I could use my full dental benefit of $1500 per year. Stretching it out helped and I took money from my 401k to pay the rest. Hopefully these last for at least 20 years,started at age 59.
So happy with Cancún Ocean Dental! All the people in the building are very professional and I felt extremely comfortable with all dentists in Implantology’s that I came into contact with. It does get a bit busy around Christmas and in the milder months. I noticed there were a lot of winter Texans in Mexico period. I need to go back to Cancun and get two more months for 2 implants. Really happy 😃
I had my grandma's implants done with Clear Choice Cleveland. Her gums kept bleeding even after 2 years after the procedure. We called Clear Choice main office and were sent to another office and so on, and so on. We ended up going to another clinic and redoing the teeth. I would not recommend this company.
No disrespect to anyone needing dental care or teeth replaced with implants. I knew in my teens I wanted to be a dentist after having a great relationship with my orthodontist. I said no to many fun and material things as I was studying hard, working hard to pay for school tuition, books and living expenses, borrowing money for student loans and going to school for 8 years after high school just so I could graduate over $125,000.00 in debt in 1989. Then, I had to borrow another $500,000.00 to buy all the equipment, supplies, and construction costs to build my office-not knowing if enough people were going to show up to pay their bill. Again, no disrespect, but most people in their 20's do not have the focus or work ethic to stay the course to become a successful dentist, plus the extra $100,000.00 in training and medical equipment necessary to be able to competently place implants. Let 1 thing go wrong and see who gets sued. Sorry, but I doubt any Dr are going to do it for free.
Come on already...could this procedure plus the implants literally cost into the tens of thousands of dollars to manufacture and place in the patients mouth....I doubt it...The cost is quite ridiculous...and frankly way out of hand...too bad...
I feel very blessed. I have only had to have a few crowns in my 55 years and fortunately I have a very honest, competent and ethical Dentist with strong morals and values. Even so, I have spent thousands of dollars. But we’ll worth it and much less than it would have cost at most other rip off artists. Here’s the real pisser. While I and all of you are paying thousands of hard earned dollars to keep up our teeth, there are thousands of low life punk ass thugs walking around with beautiful smiles they got while in jail. Yes, you and I paid for their nice smiles. While we’re working 40 + hours a week to support our families and pay our high insurance premiums, these low life, scum bucket pukes, who violated our rights, get three hots, a cot and free dental work. Along with all the other free things they get because their entitled. Remember this the next time you have to finance 1,000’s of $’s to pay for your Med. Or dental work and then remember it again when you go to the polls t
No dentist will remove any of my teeth cause they r so bad and most of them r broke off below the gum line and I have no income and no insurance to cover them don't know what to do with out the help and I am in desperate need of getting them out and implants put in so please help me.
Do not trust what this article says about UNC Dental School. I went there with a full mouth of teeth, after telling me it would be easier to pull some & that they were not needed, the teeth were pulled (and a lot of pain). Next came plan of treatment, partial for top, dentures for bottom (they said too many teeth had been removed). I put up $5,000 up front which was supposed to cover all. One tooth that they crowned to hold partial, caused severe pain, after 1 year of doing nothing, they decided I needed exploratory surgery which they told me would not come out of the money I had given them. After 3 surgeries, a lot more pain, I was told I needed to see another specialist & that I needed another $500 to see the specialist. I told them to take it out of $5,000, they told me that had been used for the surgeries & biopsies (biopsies & 1 surgery would have been covered by insurance had I gone to a REAL dentist). I left program. You get what you pay for-nothing. Plus my identity was stolen.
I got all on 4 from Center for Dental Implants & Esthetics. They have a package $11000 which includes Nobel Biocare All-on-4 for both the jaws including Zirconia teeth. This was unbelievable till I actually got it. Over this I had travel & stay costs, which will be another 3K so in less than 15K I got NEW teeth.
I had no idea it was so expensive to have a beautiful smile. I need to replace teeth and in need of financial support, I do have dental ins but like MCHammer, they won't touch that.
My heart goes out to folks on here begging for teeth.So to the ones begging,let me know how that goes.Im a middle class dad that is sitting here trying to figure out how to afford getting my teeth fixed.I need a full set.From what I learned,if you don't get implants on the bottom,you get bone lose and look like Herman the gummy monster.I also am from the South so my advise to you all asking for money.Dont,we may be poor in wealth but let's not loose our self respect.
All-on four: One full arch of teeth, four dental implants. I’ve recieved 2 identical quotes of $42,000 for All-on four dental implants.Most recent quote 3/2018. I have dental insurance which will cover up to $2000 of dental work, extractions etc... The dilemma I am having Is financing the $40,000. My monthly /annual income is more than sufficient to pay back a $40,000 loan yet I was denied the 2 times I applied. The credit reporting company, Experian, Didnt find any credit history? I NEED either a Co-signer or a lender willing to work with me. For example setting up automatic monthly payments either thru payroll deduction or Bank Acct defuction. I can pay $800 - $1200 / month. Please help.
I am in Denver,CO.area.I found an awesome dental implant specialist. His name is Dr.Ian Topelson in Auroara at AFFORDABLE DENTURES.Ge owns the practice so forget about bad things associated w affordable denture name. This is a pvt.Franchise .He tries to help people especially seniors who medically need implant dentures due to tooth loss, aging, bone loss.It cost me right around 10,600 to have 12 extractions, 5 implants, snap on upper denture. Bone implant. I had to finance it but might be able to recoup half thru Medicare.They give you a detailed report if anesthesia, surgery, bone grafting and all. I had gotten 3 estimates over past 2 years. I had 4 decayed post root canal upper teeth. 3 infected. Terrible pain. Difficulty eating.1 cracked tooth in half. The other 3 quotes were $20-30,000.Half of the problems with my teeth and jawbone were missed by other oral surgeons who did extract,implant, followed by snap fit denture ( ultimate fit best possible denture).so It is horrendously .
Hi my name is Delilah M.I am 57 years old oh my stars didn't know how much it cost just to be able to have smile and myself confidence back. I have insurance but will not pay for what I need. Lord is like buying a new car I really cant afford a new car let alone 55,000.00 for implants. I play the lottery just wishing and hoping that my time will come but here I am writing to see if anyone can help me in any way possible. I know that this is farfetched but so isn't winning the lottery. Thank you so much for reading this comment god bless you all and hope that you get the help you all need .
Hi My name is Carly Cantrell I'm 35, I need an upper full dental implant. This is so embarrassing and humbling. I hate to ask but is there anyone that can help me come up with $12,000.00 or can donate ANY amount? I would be so thankful. I have prayed, entered every dental cost I could find for years I've even wrote Oprah Lol.I don't have Anyone to ask or help me. I don't have dental insurance I receive $ 1500.00 a month income $735.00 for myself and $737 for my son (where his father passed away) If you don't trust sending me money you can pay it directly to the dental office. My email address is [email protected] Thank you, Carly
I had 6 upper and 6 lower existing baby teeth removed with cross ways impacted baby teeth upper and lower removed plus bone grafts ($9,500.00 surgery). Had 4 plus 1 single implant because of cracked broken tooth after start of process ($10,000.00). A 6 tooth bridge over 4 implants and a single tooth implant with abutments over each implant ($15,000)
I need help to raise $30.000 for dental implants to get a new smile. I got medi-cal I was told implants not cover by medical I got Kaiser but Kaiser don't got a dental business.i did not purchase because I can't afford it.
I had it all done. I live in AZ. I got 3 quotes for full dental implants in AZ. They Ranged from $46000-$60,000. I got in touch with a friend who knew somebody in Salt Lake City that did implants. He did it for $38000. IT sucked because I had to stay in a hotel for a week after the implant surgery. But I saved $16000. I couldn't be happier. Its a lot of money but in the long run well worth it. I can eat and no more tooth pain. I can smile for pictures now.
After getting an estimate of $65,000 in Seattle for a whole smile makeover, I researched other countries and decided on Costa Rica. Best investment I ever made - 5 implants, new crowns on all my teeth, including some design to improve my bite (not included in the local estimate). Expert and qualified dental specialists, and lifetime guarantee.
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